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Acclaimed Riesling-maker, Jeff Grosset, turns his hand to Pinot Noir here with exceptional results. With fruit from the high altitude region of the Adelaide Hills, the resulting Pinot Noir is ethereal, structured and superbly fragrant. Wonderful varietal definition with more than enough fruit weight balance with superb acid and complexity.

The Pinot noir vines used for this wine by Yeringberg were planted in 1969, 1970 & 1974. There are two clones the younger vines are MV6 and the older vines are known as the Rutherglen clone. All the fruit is crushed, de-stemmed and inoculated. Fermentation is generally rapid, with temperatures reaching 32°C. Ferments are plunged by hand every 8 hours. It is pressed as soon as the ferment is dry. The wine is matured in hogsheads, about 30% new, for about 18 months, with 2-3 rackings. Not filtered.

A seductive and enticing Pinot Noir that delivers an intriguing aroma of sun ripened red fruits, earl grey tea and an underlying character of autumnal leaves and wet stones. The palate is both youthful and vibrant, with an elegance and richness that is becoming the hallmark of our vineyard. The red berry fruit flavours combine with wild thyme and rich savoury notes, and are supported by the beautifully poised tannins that give depth to the long mouth-watering finish. This wine by Burn Cottage Vineyard needs a few years to marry all of its elements. Cellaring for up to 8-10 years.

Tricia Byrnes and Kevin Bell from Hurley first planted vines at their Balnarring property in 1998 with the sole intention of creating three single vineyard pinot noirs. Their philosophy centres around respect of the environment as they see their most important role is viticulture. This is a luscious wine, smelling intensely of blueberries, dark plums, earth and cake spice. The palate is full and smooth with many layers of complexity enveloped in a rich, creamy texture. Ripe and generous but very well balanced, this is a classic Lodestone from an excellent vintage. As with the others, the oak here is classy and judicious.

Burn Cottage Vineyard Moonlight Race Pinot Noir. A myriad of mulberry, wild thyme and enticing savoury undertones are interwoven with layers of ripe summer berries. The palate displays both generosity and restraint, with plump and supple tannins that are supported by an amalgam of summer ripened plums, dark cherry and a freshness reminiscent of ripe red fruits. The finish is long, the wine showing lovely fruit purity and definition.

Rich aromas of black cherries, mulberries, Damson plums and cake spice, with a gamey, animal flourish. In the mouth, the Hurley Hommage Pinot Noir has concentrated flavours of same plus the usual herbaceous nuance of Hommage, nicely balanced by excellent acidity and excellent oak.

Perhaps the most lifted and aromatic wine from the vintage. It shows blackberry, blackcurrant, violets, damp red earth and wood spice on the nose. The palate has more black fruit as well as spice and some herbal undergrowth. The wine is textured and long with noticeable, chewy tannin. Classic South Gippsland!

JEAN-NOEL GAGNARD Cuvee L'Estimee , Chassagne-Montrachet

Two vineyards were established in the Bendigo sub-region: The Prophets Rock Home Vineyard and, subsequently, the Rocky Point. Both are steep and elevated, and each is distinctive The Home Vineyard with its rare mix of soils, including schist, clay and chalk, and Rocky Point with its stony ground and almost treacherous slopes. Rich ruby in colour, displaying red berry fruit, spice and floral aromas on the nose leading on to an elegant well-structured, mineral driven palate. The rich aromatics are accompanied by silky tannin and well-balanced acidity leading on to a long finish. This wine will reward cellaring over the next 6-10+ years from vintage.